Friends of the Panaewa Zoo

01/01/2025

12/28/2024

Happy 6th week on Earth to our baby sloth! 🦥

Did you know, baby sloths can start eating solid foods as early as 1 week after birth? Mama sloths start introducing their young to leaves early so they learn which ones are safe to eat. As you can see from the video, Karrie's baby is definitely enjoying her schooling as a little taste tester 🌿🤤

12/26/2024

Seasons Greetings to all! 🎄❤️🎁🎀

Here's to a season of love, laughter and unforgettable memories!!

12/14/2024

The Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens is taking precautionary steps to protect its animals following the recent detection of avian influenza (bird flu) in a wastewater sample on Hawai‘i Island.

“These precautionary steps are intended to protect our animals, staff, volunteers, and guests,” said Mayor Kimo Alameda. “In addition to adhering to these guidelines, we also ask the public to help with monitoring and report occurrences of multiple or unusual illnesses in birds, livestock or other animals on Hawaiʻi Island to the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture.”

The Pana‘ewa Rainfortest Zoo & Gardens, owned and operated by the County of Hawaiʻi, is home to nearly 300 animals, including 75 individual birds representing 29 bird species.

“In the zoo profession, we are always preparing for biosecurity events like the bird flu,” said Zoo Administrator Mindy Runnells. “Many cleaning and disinfecting protocols that we already have in place are designed to prevent illness. This is just adding some steps as a safety precaution.”

The zoo announces these changes.

• The Petting Zoo will not have birds available for visiting.
• The zoo is not accepting animal donations.

The zoo is also considering other measures, such as the installation of additional mesh and roof structures in aviaries and other animal habitats to decrease contact with wild birds.

Zoo visitors and the public are kindly asked to follow these guidelines:

• Do not come into contact with the birds at the zoo. Please stay on pathways and in front of barriers.
• Footwear is required inside the zoo.
• Do not visit the zoo if you are not feeling well.
• Do not feed any items to any animals at the zoo.
• Do not drop off chickens, turkeys, ducks, peacocks or other birds at the zoo.

The risk to the public from bird flu remains low, according to the Hawaiʻi Department of Health. However, bird flu can cause severe impacts to certain bird populations.

For the full announcement, including avian influenza resources and links, see the link below: https://www.hawaiicounty.gov/Home/Components/News/News/3845/16 #!/

12/05/2024

We’re wild with gratitude for our volunteers past and present, today and every day, for their dedication and commitment to making a difference in our community. Our volunteers are a hoot, bringing unique skill sets, enthusiasm, and energy which contributes to the overall success of the Zoo.

The passion our volunteers have for our animals, plants, and zoo guests is owl-ways noticed and appreciated. Thank you for all the hard work you put in to make the Zoo a special and memorable place for everyone!!

Happy International Volunteer Day 🐅🌈🤝🌱🐾

Pictured: Lillinoe the pueo 🦉

12/05/2024

The day is used to make necessary repairs, finish some of the ongoing projects, and begin new ones without endangering zoo guests. Sometimes, heavy equipment is required in the zoo to accomplish the required results. The time is also used for maintaining walkways throughout the zoo to make them safe for our guests.

12/03/2024

Our Zoo family is growing at a leisurely pace—

After a near 12-month long pregnancy, the Zoo received a special pre-Thanksgiving gift when a baby sloth was born. 🦥

First-time mom Karrie, one of our Linne’s two-toed sloths, is taking on her new role with ease, making sure her baby is well-fed and safe. The baby sloth has been observed nursing throughout the day and is bonding and clinging to mom. Initial indications are that the baby is doing well. Its gender and name are still TBD!

Baby sloths instinctively crawl up towards the safety of their mother’s chest immediately after birth, where they nurse for four to five weeks. They begin to sample leaves from around their mom’s mouth as early as 1 week of age (this is how they learn which leaves are good to eat!) 🍃and start tasting solid foods within their first few weeks of life. Sloths remain riding along with their mother for nearly a year before branching out on their own.

With the holiday rush in full swing, what better way to take a break and unwind than enjoying this heartwarming news? Slow down and leaf your worries behind— see if you can spot our newest addition on exhibit the next time you visit the Zoo. Enjoy these first looks and stay tuned for more baby sloth updates. 💕

12/01/2024

Watch how the wild side of the holidays unwrap their presents and treats. You won't want to miss this!

11/29/2024

Get a head start on your Christmas shopping! Visit the Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens, where you’ll find a fantastic gift shop with unique holiday items perfect for your loved ones. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to make this Christmas extra special!

11/29/2024

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, we want you to know how much your kindness and support mean to us. Have a wonderful holiday!

11/25/2024

Sriracha, the female Bengal tiger at the Zoo, has been dealing with a health issue recently but is currently on antibiotics and already back to her spunky self. After undergoing procedures and an exam while anesthetized, her keepers tended to her needs and safely hand-fed her until her appetite picked up. Thanks to everyone involved in the planning, support, and dedicated care, she’s now lively and energetic once again. 🧡🐯

See the full story: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/hfWH6TXz83uq3yye/?mibextid=WC7FNe

11/20/2024

🥚 It’s an egg-stra special time for our emus… it’s officially egg laying season! 🥚

Let’s egg-samine the facts: Although it may look like a dragon’s egg or a ripe avocado, this is the first egg of the season laid by Edwina the emu— weighing in at 1.2 pounds. That is equivalent to about 10-12 chicken eggs!

With emus, as in most ratites (large flightless birds), the male is the egg-spert when it comes to incubation. In the process of taking care of their eggs, he does not eat, drink, or defecate, and stands only to turn them. After about 8 weeks, the eggs hatch and the young are nurtured by their father.

Similar to chicken egg farms, however, the emu eggs at the Zoo are pulled before any chicks develop. Emu eggs are not just pretty to look at, they’re nutritious, too! We use the large eggs to feed various zoo animals, allowing us to add variety in their diets, while the shells are often kept for educational purposes. Emu eggs are often considered a delicacy and are known for their rich, robust flavor and large yolk-to-white ratio. Talk about egg-cellent value!

That’s all, yolks! 🍳

11/17/2024

Get a head start on your Christmas shopping! Visit the Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens, where you’ll find a fantastic gift shop filled with unique holiday items perfect for your loved ones. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to make this Christmas extra special!

11/16/2024

Rowdy, the hyacinth macaw, is taking his truck for a spin for the very first time, and it’s a total blast! He explores every twist and turn with his vibrant feathers ruffled in the wind. Rowdy can't help but flap his wings in delight. It’s a new adventure, which he seems to enjoy!